Similarly, identifying patients at risk of developing an infection can aid in monitoring and diagnosis. Two recent studies indicate the potential for efficient screening and improved infection control by identifying risk factors.

The researchers found that screening only those patients with one of those risk factors would identify 74 percent of the C.diff carriers. The hope is that more efficient screening of carriers at admission can reduce overall incidents of infection.

Most other types of antidepressants did not affect risk of infection. The authors cautioned that patients should not stop taking antidepressants unless they are advised to do so by their physician.

The same study found that widowed adults had a 54 percent higher likelihood of infection than married peers, which the authors posited may have some connection to depression. More research is needed to determine whether the increased risk is caused by intestinal changes during depression or by the medications.